Bag feeding mechanism



April 20, 1943.

E. E. WEST BAG FEEDING MECHANISM 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Sept. 19, 1940 April 20,1943. E. E. wEsT BAG FEEDING MECHANISM 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 19 1940 Jami- 521 W962? IMM M 4 km irro/Ph srs M L \Q mi 2 R R KN 3w. Wm Q April 20, 1943. E. E. WEST BAQ FEEDING MECHANISM Filed Sept. 19, 1940 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 A ril 20, 1943. -E. E. WEST 2,316,922

BAG FEEDING MECHANISM Filed Sept 19, 1940 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented Apr. 20, 1943 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,316,922 BAG resume MECHANISM Edward E. West, Richmond, Va.

Application September 19. 1940, Serial No. 357,458

11 Claims. (01. 112-2) This invention relates to improvements in ba feeding means for stringing machines.

The principal object of the present invention is the provision of improved means for horizontally feeding hemmed bags onto bag positioning and holding means of a bag stringing machine, as described in my Patent No. 2,274,622.

A further object is to provide an improved bag feeding mechanism for accurately and uniformly delivering hemmed bags to a bag positioning and holding means for stringing.

Another object is to provide a bag feeding mechanism having. improved hem gripping and opening means for accurately aligning the bags on the bag holding device to assure of the bags being uniformly and properly strung.

These and other objects and advantages will be apparent as the following specification is considered in connection with the accompanyin drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is a plan view of the improved bag feeding mechanism;

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the bag feedin mechanism and the operating means therefor, showing the feeding and gripping carriage in position to receive a hemmed bag;

Figure 3 is an enlarged section through the bag feeding and hem gripping carriage, showing the combined pusher and bag opening fingers in hem entering position, and the side hem grippers in open position;

Figure 4 is an enlarged side view of the side hem grippers in open position;

Figure 5 is a detailed perspective view of the lever and pin for operating the side hem grippers;

Figure 6 is a diagrammatic view of the pusher and bag opening lingers in the position they assume when inserted within the bag hems, and the side hem grippers in open position;

Figure 7 is a diagrammatic view of the pus her and bag opening fingers in the position they assume when inserted within thebag hems, and the side hem grippers clamping the side of the hems;

Figure 8 is a diagrammatic view of the pusher and bag opening fingers in the position they assume when spreading open the mouth of the bag. and the side hem grippers clamping the side of the hems;

Figure 9 is a diagrammatic view of the pusher and bag openings fingers and the side hem grippers in the positions they assume when positioning a hemmed bag on the supporting arms;

Figure 10 is a cross section through a portion of a hemmed bag in the position it assumes after being finally arranged'on and engaged by a pair of bag holding arms; and

Figure 11 is a diagrammatic view of the directional movements of the carriage rock shaft for actuating the pusher and bag opening fingers and the side hem grippers.

Generally considered, hemmed bags are delivered, in chain connected form from a source of supply. to a horizontally disposed feeding and cutting mechanism which engages the home of the successively fed bags, severs the connecting seam threads, and carries successive bags onto one horizontally disposed pair, of four radially extending pairs of bag holding arms of a rotating turret head. The bags are thereafter adapted to be operated upon by a stringing mechanism, which does not constitute a part of the present invention.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, wherein like reference characters designate similar parts throughout the several views, the numeral I denotes a drum upon which a source of hemmed bag supply, in the form of a roll I is carried. The drum i is rotatably supp rted on the rear ends of a pair of rearwardly extending brackets 2 secured by bolts, or the like 3 to the rear wall 4 of the main machine frame 5, of a stringing and tagging machine 6, only a portion of which is shown. The roll of chain-threadconnected, hemmed bag lengths I are wound on the drum l and, as the roll is rotated, in a manner presently described, the connected bag lengths are delivered over an idler roller or the like 8, suitably mounted on the rear wall 4 of frame 5-. A substantially flat, rectangular feed or transfer plate 9 is rigidly supported by L- shaped brackets l0, suitably secured to a side wall H of the main frame 5. A pair of spaced, longitudinally extending, bag guide runners I2, suitably secured by screws or the like l3 to the top face of the plate '9, cooperate with the plate to provide a guide or runway along which the bag lengths I are fed, in chain fashion, from the roll A pair of downwardly and forwardly extending, substantially flat, spaced, spring fingers l4, secured at their rear ends to the runners l2, rest lightly upon the top surfaces of the bag lengths I and serve to retain the same in proper alignment, as the :bag lengths are fed along the guide plate 9, between the runners l2.

The roll I of chain-connected bag blanks 1 rests upon and is rotated by a friction roller 80,

carried by a shaft 8| journalied in the rear or lower end of a rearwardly extending bracket 82.

The upper or front end of bracket 82 is loosely orpivotallyconnectedtoashaftfldourmlledin abossllmountedontherearwalilofthemachineframe i. Adiskllmcuntedontheouter end of shaft 83, frictionallyenmwith theside faceofandisrotatedbyaspmcketwheellt.

drivenbyasourceofpowennotshown. Pulleys or sheavesll-IV mounted on the shafts II and shaftliintnrnrotatestherolierli,through llint frictionally'androtatesthe m I todeliverthechain-connectedhagblanks 'ltothefeedortransferplatel. Byadlmting thediskllfrelativetothemrocket wheel II. the

'rateofrotationoftherollerflmaybevariedto wheel I. This adjustment of the rod I01 and disk 88 increases or decreases the speed of rotation of the disk I! and controls the rotation of the pulleys I1 and roller II, in an obvious manner.

In order to compensate for the gradual decrease in the diameter of roll I, as bag lengths are unmediurnofdiskliandbelt ",andtheroller' rolled therefrom, and to prevent the roller ll from breaking its frictional engagement therewith, I provide means for automatically elevating the roller 80. Thus, a pulley or sheave I9 is suitably Journalled on the end of one of the roll supporting bracket arms 2. A cable or wire ll, attached at its upper end to an arm ll secured to bracket 02, passes over thepulley I! and has a suitable weight ll connected to the lower end thereof. This weight ii exerts a constant imward pull on the cable ll, arm ll, swinging or rocking the bracket 82 about the shaft 83 as a pivot, and causes the roller II to be continuously elevated into frictional engagement with the roll of bag lengths as the latter unwind during the feeding ofthe bag blanks I to the feed or transfer plate I.

A bag pusher member, comprising a downwardly and forwardly extending, relatively flat, resilient plate or tongue ii, is secured by a bolt ll, to theouter ends of a pairtof laterally extending rods il, substantially intermediate the bag guide runners ii. The rods II are mounted in and project through a vertically disposed block is,

- slidabiy arranged in a slot or guide track I! in the side frame wall i I. A vertical lever 20 is pivotaliy connected. at its upper end, to an arm it (see Figure 1), in turn pivoted to the side of the block II, with the lower end of the lever being fulcrumed to a bracket 2| on the machine frame. A roller 2i, moimted on the lever 20, intermediate theendsthereofridesinacamgroovellinthe faceofacamdiskil,mountedon thehoriaontal driveshaftu. Theshaft llisprovidedwitha gear 24', which meshes with a worm II", as

pusher plate I is likewise moved forwardly and rearwardly on the feed or transfer plate l. The forward edge of the spring plate I! is adapted to extendinto or underneath the tcphern iiofthe helm! of theforemostbagblank'l,ofthechain of bags, and advance the bags intermittently beneathapairofcuttcrs ll.

A The bag cutters II, of substantially L extend upwardly and are vertically movable through guide slots II, in the feed plate 9, ad- Ja'cent the forward ends of the bag guiderunners if, and are pivotaliy connected todthe forwardendsofapairofrodsll. 'Iheserodsare fixed at their rear ends to a rock shaft II, in turn journalied in suitable blocks 8i, secured to the underside of plate I. The cutters II are provided with suitable cutting edges, not shown, sothatwhentherockshaftllandrodsllare rocked downwardly, as presently described, the cutters 21 are likewise moved downwardly through the guide slots 2| until their respective cutting edges coact with cutting edges, :r, on the upper ends of the slots II and thereby shear or sever the connecting bag threads. Two coil springs 88 on the forward ends of the rods 3! engage the faces of the blades 21 and maintain the cutters in vertical alignment with respect to the slots 2! thereby assuring of an accurate cutting or shearing contact between the respective cutting edges. 7 The rock shaft ll extends through an opening in the side wall of the machine frame and a small cam lug 34 is fixed on the inner end thereof. The lug 34 carries a tension spring, not shown, which is compressed against the underside of the feed plate 8, when the rock shaft 80 and cutters are rocked or moved downwardly to perform the cutting action, and serves to return the cutters to their normal elevated position after thecutting operation has been performed. A spring tensioned trip finger 35, pivotaliy connected to the side of the sliding block I, is adaptedto slip or slide freely over the upper end of the rock shaft cam lug 34, during the rearward travel of the block. On the forward travel of block it, the trip finger 35 engages with the cam lug 84 and rotates the same so that the rock shaft 80 and rods 2! are rocked downwardly, in a clockwise direction, viewing Figure 2, and the cutters 21 are moved downwardly through the slots 28 to sever the connecting bag threads. After the cutters, on their downward movement through slots 2|, have severed the connecting threads, the spring,

, not shown, causes the rods 2! and cutters 21 to showninl igure2,onthemainlongitudinaldrive shaft ll. During rotation of the cam 83, the leverflisrockedandtheblcckilisreciprocated in the guide track ll whereby the spring bag 15 return to their normal elevated pcsitiomfin substantially the same manner as described and illustrated in my copending application Serial No.

250,223, flied January 10, 1939. It should be noted that the bag pusher plate I! engages or enters the top hem I of the bag I while the latter is stationary with the hem slightly to the rear of the thread cutters 21, and that the cutting of the threads occurs as the bag is in motion. that is. being pushed forwardly.

The bags, after having their connecting threads severed, are advanced or pushed along the feeding plate l, by the bag pusher plate 1!, into position tobegrippedbyareciprocatingbaggripperand' fe'edcarriagefll. Attheendofitsforwardstroke, the pusher plate ll stops and holds the hemmed bagstationaryuntiithefeedcarriageflismoved rearwardlyandreachesahemiflppingposition. Inother words,thepmherplate llremainsinthe topbaghem ll andpromrlyalignsthebaguntil thefeedcarriageflisinpositiontopermitofthe bag being t pp dflhiscarriage comprises a front rock shaft 49, is a forwardly and vertically pair of guide rods 31 slidably extending through suitable blocks 33 on the underside of feedin plate 9. A pair of uprights 35 are secured to the forward ends of the guide rods 31, and a pair of parallel, spaced, top rock shafts 49-, and a pair of parallel, spaced, bottom rock shafts 42-' 43 extend transversely between and are mounted in the uprights 33. An extended reduced portion 44, suitably secured to the underside of the feed plate 9 at the forward end thereof, is cut away to form two, relatively short, integral bag supporting fingers 45, to permit of the carriage 35 moving close to the forward end of the plate 9.

The bag gripper carriage 35 and the guide rods 31 are reciprocated, relative to the stationary feed plate by means of an arm 45 pivoted at one end to a cross bar 41, fixed to the guide rod 31, and at its other end pivoted to the upper end of a vertical lever '43. The lower end of lever 43 is fixed to a horizontal stub shaft 49 rotatably mounted in a bearing 50, in the main machine frame 5. A lever 5| connected to the outer end of stub shaft 49 carries a roller 52 which rides in a cam groove 54 in the face of the cam 53, mounted on the horizontal drive shaft 24. Rotation of the cam 53 actuates the lever 43 and reciprocates the bag gripper carriage 33 into position to grip the bag and deliver the same forwardly onto a pair of bag holding arms, hereinafter referred to.

A pair of combined pusher and bag opening fingers 55 are sleeved on the front top and bottom rock shafts 40 and 42, between fixed collars 55, thereon and intermediate the ends of the rock shafts (see Fig. 1). Formed on the sleeve portions 5|, of the fingers 55, are a pair of vertically and forwardly extending pins 52 having their upper ends bent laterally, as at 54, and frictionally engaging the side faces 55 of a pair of vertically disposed clutch'plates 55, integrally formed on one pair of the fixed collars 50 of shafts 40 and 42, for a purpose presently to be described. A pair of vertically and rearwardly extending pins 53, best shown in Figure 3, are also formed on the sleeve portions 5| and are adapted to engage with depending stop screws 53 carried by substantially L-shaped lugs 59, fixed to the rearwardly disposed pair of top and bottom rock shafts-4| and 43, and serve to limit the frictional movement of the pins 52 relative to the clutch plate 55.

Integrally formed on a pair of segment gears 51, sleeved on one end of the top and bottom front rock shafts 43 and 42 are a pair of side hem gripping jaws 55. The bottom segment gear 51 is provided with an integral, rearwardly extending, cam faced or beveled pin 51 which is adapted to engage with a downwardly depending lug 58, fixed to the top rear rock shaft 4|, as best shown in Figure 4. A coil or other suitable spring 95, having its upper end fixed to the top segment gear 51 of the upper side hem gripping jaw 55 by a screw 96, and its lower end partially coiled around the rock shaft 4|, as at 91, adjacent the lug 58, serves to hold the upper side hem gripping jaw 55 under spring tension, for a purpose hereinafter described. A substantially U-shaped bent lug 59, fixed to the extended outer end of the front top rock shaft 40, is provided with two relatively small, laterally projecting pins which engage with a rearwardly extending lug 1|, fixed on the extended outer end of the rear top rock shaft 4|, as illustrated in Figure 5. 4 Integrally formed on a segment gear 92, fixedly of arm 1211s slidably positioned in alongitudinal extending arm 12. The segment gear 92 meshes with a segment gear 53 fixed to the bottom front rock shaft 42, as best shown in dotted lines of Figures 3 and .4.

A roller 13, rotatably mounted in the outer end slot or groove 15' ms cam track or plate 15. The track, as shownin Figure 2, is fixedly secured to and supported upon the upper endv of a vertical lever 15, pivotally connected,,intermediate its ends, to one end of an arm 11, a at 11',- the other end of the arm 11 in turn fulcrumed to the side wall H of the main frame 5, as at 11". The lower extremity of the lever 15 is pivoted to one end of an arm 15', as at '15", the other end of the arm in turn fulcrumed to the side wall liof the main frame 5 as at 18'. A cam roller 19, carried by the lower end of the arm 15', rides in a cam groove 19 in the face of the cam disk 53, on horizontal shaft 24. Rotation of the cam disk 53 reciprocates the bag gripper and feed carriage 35, relative to the feed plate 9, through the medium of lever 43f'and simultaneously elevates and lowers the cam track 15, so that during the movement of the track the roller 13 on arm 12 is free to move within the longitudinal slot 15',

and the arm 12 is raised and lowered whereby the top and bottom front rock shafts 40 and 42 are rocked to actuate the pusher and bag opening fingers 55 and the side hem gripper jaws 55, in the following manner.

The bag pushing and opening fingers 55, which as previously described are loosely sleeved on the top and bottom front rock shafts 49 and 42, are moved to open and closed bag hem gripping position, when the shafts 40 and 42 are rocked, by virtue of the frictional engagement between the vertical pins 52, on the sleeve portions 5| of the fingers, and the side faces 55 of the vertically disposed clutch plates 55, carried by these shafts. Thus, when the bag gripper and feed carriage 35 is moved rearwardly to the end of its return secured to one of the extended ends of the top 7:;

stroke, or Figure 2 position, that is, adjacent the forward end of feed plate 9, and the cam track 15 is in raised or elevated position, the combined pusher and bag opening fingers 55 and side hem gripping jaws 55 are in expanded or dpened position. Therefore, the forwardly travelling bag pusher,plate I5 will push a hemmed bag blank 1 forwardly therebetween so that the hems 1' of the bag blank are positioned ahead of or in front of the fingers 55. Rotation of the cam 53, in a clockwise direction, viewing Figure 2, acts on thewertical lever' 15 and depresses or lowers the cam track slightly, in the direction of the arrow 99 Figure 11, so that the fingers 55 are moved to partially closed hem entering position, as shown in Figure 2. The verticallever 48 is then moved by the continued rotationo'f cam 53 to swing the bag gripper and feed carriage 35 forwardly a relatively short distance, in the direction of arrow I05, Figure 11, and tomove the partially closed fingers 55 into or underneath the top and bottom bag hems 1', whereupon the lever 15 and cam track is depressed or lowered slightly, in the direction of arrow I01, Figure 11. whereby the arm 12 is rocked downwardly, in a counter-clockwise direction. This movement of the arm 12 rocks the top and bottom front rock shafts 43 and 42, through the gears 92'93, in opposing directions, that is counter-clockwise and clockwise, respectively, so that the fingers 55 are moved to their final closed hem gripping position, as shown in Figure 6. As the pusher anl-Lbag opening fingers II are inserted within and grip the top and bottom hems l. the fingers havereachcd the end of their respective downward and upward movements with the pins ll on the finger sleeve portions ii abutting the stop screwsilandbeinglimitedagainstfurtherupward movement as particularly shown in Figure 3, so that the clutch plates 88 continue to move ing movementot the shafts ll and 42. In other words, by virtue of the frictional engagement between the pins 82 and clutch plates I, the shafts ll and u may be further rotated or rocked without disturbing the closed pushing and bag opening fingers IS. The lever II and cam track I! continue to move downwardly a slight distance, in the directionof arrow Ill Figure 11, due to the rotation of cam 58, whereby as the bag gripper and feed carriage it moves forwardly, the shafts ll and 42 are further rocked, in counterclockwise and clockwise directions, respectively, which causes the bottom pin II, on bent lug 08 formed on the end of top front rock shaft 40, to be rocked upwardly into engagement with the rearwardly extending lug Ii, fixed on top rear rock shaft ll. The lug H is thus swung up.- wardly which movement rocks the top rear rock shaft 4| in a counterclockwise direction so that the downwardly depending lug N, on the end of shaft ll, is swung downwardly and rearwardly, in an are. into engagement with and caused to depress the outer or rear end oi therearwardly extending pin ll, on the bottom side hem gripper segment gear l'l, Figure 4. The bottom segment gear I! is thereby rocked in a clockwise direction and in turn rocks the top segment gear 81, in an opposing or counterclockwise direction, against the tension of leaf spring ll, whereby the side hem gripp r laws I. integrally formed on the gears 51, are moved upwardly and downwardly, respectively,'to closed gripp ns positions on one side or end of the bag hems I. as best shown in Figure 7. It will thus be noted that the combined pusher and bag opening fingers II are first moved into gripping engagement with the bag hems 'I',- before the side hem gripping jaws II are moved to closed position, and the latter are there after actuated to grip the ends of the hems, without disturbing the closed fingers II. In other the side hem grippin laws II are moved independentiy of each other. This independent movement is effected through the medium of the novel arrangement of the pins 82 and clutch plates ii, carried by the finger sleeve portions II and rock shafts ll and 42, respectively.

with the bag vhems gripped by the pusher and bag opening fingers l5 and the side hem gripper Jaws II, see Figure 7, the gripper and feed carriage it continues to move forwardly and the cam track is caused to move upwardly. As the cam track II is elevated, due to the action of the cam It on lever 18, the arm I! is raised, in the direction of the arrow Ill, Figure 11, and the top and bottom front rook shafts ll and I! are rocked in clockwise and counter-clockwise directions, respectively, through the gears 92-. nus movement of the rock shafts expands or sprcath the pusher and bag opener fingers ll apart so that the mouth of the bag is opened. .asillustratedinl'igurcssandil. Thisopening or spreading movement of the pusher and gripping fingers II is effected by virtue of the frictional engagement of the pins 2, carried by the sleeves ll, sleeved on shafts II and II, with the relative to the pins 8! during the further rockwords, the pusher and opening fingers l5 and 2,310,951: I side faces as of the clutch plates as. carried by the rock shafts l0 and 42. Thus, as the bent outer ends 84, of pins l2, friotionally engage the clutch plates II, the fingers I! will be elevated or spread apart simultaneously, with the rocking movement of the shafts 0-42 and clutch plates ll, until the rearwardly extending pins II, on finger collars ll, engage the fiattened faces I. of collars I" fixed on the top and bottom rear rook shafts Ii and it. Whm-the pins 88 engage the collars I II, the pins II and the fingers I! are prevented from rocking any further. 7

whereby the rock shafts 40-42 and clutch plates I may continue to be rooted, without disturbing the open or expanded positions of the fingers II, for a purpose presently to be described. Therefore, it will be understood that, the pusher and gripping fingers II are moved to the open or expanded positions. lust described, without moving or otherwise disturbing the side hem gripping Jaws It, which remain 'in closed gripping engagement with the end of the bag hems l.

Asthebagblanklisnowspreadopenand clamped by the side hem grippers ll. see Figure 8,thegripperandfeedcarriageflisoausedto move forwardly, in the direction of the arrow I03, Figure 11, due to the action of cam I! on lever 4|, and carries the opened and gripped bag over one pair of horizontally disposed bag holding arms, shown in Figures 1, 2, 8 and 9, of a series of four pairs of arms pivotally mounted in a rotating turret head, not shown; The bag arms I have previously been bent inwardly in opposed directions, in a manner described and illustrated in my pending application, Serial No. 250,223, a filed January 10, 1939, to facilitate positioning of the bag thereon. when the gripper and feed carriage reaches the end of its forward travel. with the bag blank lgripped. opened and completely disposed on the pair of bag holding arms 94, as shown in Figure 9, the bag holding arms are expanded so as to engage the sides of the bag blank and to firmly retain the same in position thereon, in'a manner not shown in this application. With the bag blank I mounted on and gripped by the holding arms '4. the cam track is elevated a relatively short distance. in

to rock the top and I! in clockwise directions, respectively. through the gears I243.

movement of shafts 4 rotates the clutch plates and The bag blank 'l,.having accurately and a relative to the I placed under tension during 62 and clutch'plates 65 which permits of lnde-' pendent movement of the fingers .55 and jaws i6. Rotation of the cam 53 now swings the lever 8 rearwardly and moves the bag gripper and feeding carriage 36 iearwardly, in the direction of arrow 98, Figure 11, towards the forward end of feed or transfer plate 9, in position to receive another bag blank I, that is, with the respective pushing and opening fingers 55 and side hem gripping jaws 56 in fully expanded open position.

Due to the fact that the bag pusher plate l5, extending into the top hem 26 of the hems 1', pushes the bag blank 1 forwardly to the end of the feed or transfer plate 9 and holds the bag in position until the feed carriage 38 reaches the end of its return stroke, the hems I of the bag are first properly and uniformly aligned before the combined pushing and gripping fingers 55 are moved into the hems 1. Therefore the ba hems I are accurately and uniformly entered into and clamped by the fingers 55, which prevents of the bag blank 1, being misaligned while the fingers 55 are spreading open the mouth thereof and the side hem gripping jaws 56 are clamping the end of the hems I. The bag blank is pushed entirely on the pair of horizontally disposed bag holding arms 94, while the hems I are gripped by the fingers 55 and jaws 56, and the arms 94 are expanded to firmly retain the bag I thereon before the side hem gripping jaws 56 are opened to entirely release the bag. Thus, the bag hems I are uniformly and accurately adjusted on the lower ends of the arms Bl before being released by the gripper carriage 36. This is very important because it is essential that the edge of the bag hems I, into which a pair of stringing needles, not shown, enter, be aligned with the needles, in order to prevent the needles from missing or otherwise failing to properly enter the hems of the bag, during the bag string- While I have described and illustrateda pre ferred embodiment of my bag feeding and hem opening mechanism, it is to be understood that various changes and improvements may be made without departing from the scope and spirit of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. In a machine of the character described having bag holding arms, a roll of hemmed bags, a substantially horizontally disposed bag feeding carriage for horizontally feeding hemmed bags one end of the hems, and opening said fingers for opening I ing said jaws during the forward travel of the carriage. a.

2. In a machine of the characterdescribed having bag holding arms, a support for a roll of hemmed bags, a substantially horizontally disposed bag feeding carriage for horizontally feeding hemmedbags from said roll to said bag holding arms, and pivotally mounted rotatable means 7 associated with said support and engageable with said roll for rotating the latter to deliver bags to said feeding carriage, a series of horizontally disposed spaced shafts rotatably mounted in said carriage, a pair of forwardly extending normally open pushing and opening fingers sleeved on two of said shafts intermediate the ends thereof, and a pair of. forwardly extending normally open gripping jaws carried at one end of said finger supporting shafts, reciprocating means engageable with and adapted to feed a bag between said fingers and jaws, cam means for reciprocating said carriage horizontally, means associated withsaid cam means for rotating said shafts in opposed directions and partially closing and aligning said fingers with said bag hems to adapt said fingers to enter thereinto on the forward travel of the carriage, means associated with said rofrom said roll to said bag holding arms, a series of horizontally disposed spaced shafts rotatably mounted on said carriage, a pair of normally open pushing and opening fingers loosely mounted on two of said shafts intermediate the ends thereof, and a pair of normally open gripping jaws on one end of said finger supporting shafts, meshing gears on said fingers and jaws for simultaneously moving said fingers and jaws tating means forclosing said fingers on and clamping said hems and successively closing said jaws on one end of the hems, and opening said fingers for opening the mouth of the bag whereby said carriage feeds the opened and gripped bag onto said bag holding arms.

3. In a machine of the character described having bag holding arms, a support for a roll of hemmed bags, horizontal means for supporting a hemmed bag being fed from said roll, a substantially horizontally disposed bag feeding carriage for horizontally feeding hemmed bags forwardly from said supporting means to said bag holding arms, a series of horizontally disposed spaced shafts rotatably mounted in said carriage, a pair of forwardly extending normally open pushing and opening fingers sleeved on two of said shafts, and a pair of forwardly extending normally open gripping jaws carried by said finger supporting shafts, reciprocating means associated with said horizontal bag supporting means engageable with and adapted to feed a bag forwardly between said fingers and jaws, means for reciprocating said carriage horizontally relative to said horizontal bag supporting means, meshing gears on said shafts and means carried by one of said gears, and vertically mova-ble means engageable with said gear means for actuating said gear means and for rotating, said and successively closing said jaws on one end of the hems, opening said fingers for opening the mouth of the bag whereby said carriage feeds the opened and gripped bag onto said bag holding 4 arms.

4. In a machine of the character described having bag holding arms, a support for a roll of roll, a substantially horizontally disposed bag feeding carriage associated with said plate for horizontally feeding hemmed bags forwardly the mouth of the bag without movfrom said plate to the bag holding arms, a series.

bag forwardly between said fingers and jaws,

means for reciprocating said carriage horizontally relative to said plate, meshing gears on said shafts, and a member carried by one of said gears, vertically movable means engageable with said member for actuating the latter and for rotating said shafts in opposed directions and partially closing and ali ning said fingers with said bag hems to adapt said fingers to enter thereinto on the forward travel ofthe' carriage, means on said fingers engageable with means on said shafts for moving said fingers with said shafts and closing the fingers on and clamping said hems, and successively closing said jaws on the hems, and opening said fingers for opening the mouth of the bag whereby said carriage feeds the opened and gripped bag onto said bag holding arms.

5. In a machine of the character described having bag holding arms, a support for a roll of hemmed bags, a relatively fiat horizontal stationary plate for supporting a hemmed bag being fed from said roll, a substantially horizontally disposed bag being fed from said roll, a substantially horizontally disposed bag feeding carriage slidably mounted adjacent said plate for horizontally feeding hemmedbags forwardly from said plate to the bag holding arms, a series of horizontally disposed s'paoed rock shafts rotatably mounted in said carriage, a'pair of forwardly extending normally open pushing and openingfingers sleeved on one pair of said shafts.

and a pair of forwardly extending normally open gripping jaws carried by one end of said finger supporting shafts, reciprocating means associated with said plate engageable with the hem of and adapted to feed a bag forwardly along the plate between said fingers and jaws. means for recim'ocating said carriage horizontally relative tosaidplate,apairofgearsonsaidfingersupporting shafts and cam means associated with said gears for rocking said shafts in opposed forwardly extending normally open gripping jaws carried by one end of said finger supporting shafts, reciprocating means associated with said plate engageable with the hem of and adapted to feed a bag forwardly along the plate between said fingers and jaws, means for reciprocating said carriage horizontally relative to said plate,

a pair of gears on said finger supporting shafts and cam means associated with said gears for rocking said shafts in opposed directions and partially closing and? aligning said fingers with said a bag hems to adapt said fingers to enter thereinto directions and partlallyclosing and aligning said fingers with said bag hems to adapt'said fingers to enter thereinto on the forward travel ofthe carriage, means on said fingers frictionally engagingwithmeamonsaidshaftsforsimul-i taneously rocking said fingers and shafts, and

closing the fingers on andsclamplng the herbs, and successively closing said jaws on the hems, and opening said fingers for opening the mouth of the bag whereby said carriage feeds the opened and gripped bag onto said bag holding arms.

6. In a machine of the character described having bag holding arms, a support fora roll of hemmed bag's, a relatively fiat horizontal stationary plate for supporting a hemmed bag being fed from said roll, a substantially horizontally disposed bag feeding carriage slidably mounted adjacent said plate for horizontally feeding hemmed bags forwardly from said plate tothe'bag holdingarmaaseriesofhorlzcntally disposedspacedrockshaftsrotatably mounted in said carriage, a pair of forwardly extending normally pen pushing and opening fingers sleevedononepairofsaidshaftaandapairof on the forward travel of the carriage. a substantially vertical pin on each of said fingers frictionally engaging with a substantially vertical plate on each of said'finger supporting shafts for simultaneously rocking'said fingers and shafts for closing the fingers relative to said jaws and clamping the hems, and means on said shafts engageable with said jaws for moving the jaws to closed clamping position relativeto said closed fingers and clamping one end of theshems, and

said fingers being moved to open position by the rocking of said shafts for opening the mouth of the bag whereby said carriage feeds the opened and gripped bag onto said bag holding arms.

"I. In a machine of the character described having bag holding arms, a support for a roll of hemmed bags, a relatively fiat horizontal stationary plate for supporting a hemmed bag being fed from said roll, a substantially horizontally disposed bag feeding carriage slidably mounted adjacent said plate for horizontally feeding hemmed bags forwardly from said plate to the bag holding arms; a series of horizontally disposed spaced rock shafts rotatably mounted in said carriage, a pair of forwardly extending normally open pushing and opening fingers sleeved on one pair of said shafts, and a pair of forwardly extending normally open gripping jaws carried by one end of said finger supporting shafts, reciprocating means associated withsaid plate engageable with the hem of and adapted to feed a bag forwardly along the plate between said fingers and jaws, means for reciprocating said carriage horizontally relative to said plate, a pair of gears onsaid and cam means associated with said gears for rocking said shafts in opposed directions and partially closing and aligning said fingerswith said bag hems to adapt said fingers to enter thereinto on the forward travel of the carriage,

an upstanding pin on each of said fingers fricclamping the hems. and pin members on two of said shafts for rocking said shafts simultaneously. and means on one of said shafts engageable with means secured to one of said ripping laws for movingthe jaws to closed position relative to said closed fingers and clamping one end of the hems, and said fingers being moved to open position relative to said closed jaws by said cam means for opening the mouth of the bag whereby said carriage feeds the opened and gripped bag onto said bag holding arms.

8. In a machine of the character described having bag holding means, a source of hemmed bag s pply, a bag feeding carriage for feeding hemmed bags to said has holding means, a series of shafts rotatably mounted in said carriage, a

finger supporting shafts 7 pair of normally open pushing and opening fingers sleeved on one pair of said shafts for extending into and engaging beneath the hems of the bag, and a pair of normally open gripping jaws mounted on one end of said finger supporting shafts for gripping one end of the bag hems, means for feeding a bag between said fingers and jaws, means for moving said carriage, a vertically movable lever mounted adjacent said carriage, and cam means for moving said lever vertically, a longitudinal guide slot in the upper end of said lever, and an arm carried by one of said shafts interengageable with and movable within said guide slot whereby during the movement of said' feeding carriage said finger supporting shafts are rocked to successively partially close and move said fingers into the bag hems, close said jaws on one end of said barns, and to open said fingers for opening the mouth of the bag to permit of the opened and gripped bag being fed onto the bag holding means.

9. In a machine of the character described having bag holding means, a source of hemmed bag supply, a bag feeding carriage for feeding hemmed bags to said bag holding means, a series of shafts rotatably mounted in said carriage, a pair of normally open pushing and opening fingers sleeved on one pair of said shafts for extending into engagement beneath the hems Of the bag, and a pair of normally open gripping jaws mounted on one end of said 'finger supporting shafts for gripping one end of the bag hems, means for feeding a'bag between said fingers and jaws, means for moving said carriage, a vertically movable lever mounted adjacent the forward end of said carriage and cam meansconnected to the lower end of saidlever for moving the same vertically, a guide track on the upper end of said lever having a longitudinal guide slot therein, and a forwardly extending arm carried by one of said shafts'positioned and movable within said guide slot wherebyduring the movement of said feeding carriage said finger supporting shafts are rocked to successively partially close and move said fingers into the bag hems, close said jaws on one end of said hems, and to open said fingers for opening the mouth of the bag to permit of the opened and gripped 7 bag being fed onto the bag holding means.

10. In a machine of the character described I having bag holding means, a support for a roll of hemmed bags, a bag feeding carriage for feeding hemmed bags to said bag holding means, and means engageable with and rotating said roll for delivering bags to said feeding carriage, and

means for regulating the rate of delivery of bags from said roll to said carriage, a series of shafts rotatably mounted in said carriage, a pair of normally open pushing and opening fingers mounted on one pair of said shafts for extending into and engaging beneath the hems of the bags, and a pair of normally open gripping jaws on said finger supporting shafts for gripping one end of the bag' hems, means for feeding a bag between said fingers and jaws, means for moving said carriage, and means for successively partially closing and moving said fingers into said bag hems during the movement of the carriages and closing said fingers on said hems independent of said jaws, and means for closing said jaws on one end of said hems without moving said closed fingers, and means for opening said fingers without disturbing said closed gripping jaws for opening the mouth of the bag whereby said carriage feeds the opened and gripped bag onto said bag holding means.

11. In a machine/of the characterdescribed having bag holding means, a source of hemmed bag supply, a substantially horizontal bag supporting plate, a bag feeding carriage movably mounted on said plate and having pushing and 

